Civics / Government
Civics directly addresses citizenship education in the context of political systems. Students study the assumptions upon which governments are founded, and the strategies governments employ to achieve their goals. With respect to the United States, students learn the unique features of American representative democracy, the constitutional separation of powers, and the rule of law. Citizens need to comprehend that an essential premise of representative democracy is the willingness to place a premium on personal participation in social decision-making. Studying civics prepares students to translate beliefs into actions and ideas into policies, to discharge their responsibilities while protecting their rights and the rights of others.